“Because these are words of rebuke…where they (Bnai Yisrael) angered G-d…, he (Moshe) only refers to these places by allusion, out of honor for Bnai Yisrael.” (Rashi on Divorim 1:1) In a novel explanation of Rashi, Rav Yosef Nendik,zt”l, the Kletzker Mashgiach, explains that if a person is oblivious to his wrong doings, he’ll need a lengthy explanation to be reprimanded. For a person who understands his mistake, a hint is sufficient.

Therefore, it was a sign of honor that we just needed a small allusion to our errors!!